Non-League and Academy football writer

In the final of the 2024/25 season’s Middlesex FA Premier Cup (at The Powerday Stadium – Hanwell Town FC), Civil Service faced Brook House. Southern Amateur Football League side Civil Service (firsts) are currently in fifth place in the top division (Senior Division 1) of the SAL, with one final league fixture still to be played. Combined Counties Football League Division One (step 6) side Brook House, are currently in ninth place in their respective league, after 38 matches played. This cup final was won by Brook House, to make it back to back victories in this competition (the game was won 4-3 on penalties by Brook House, after finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes). Civil Service almost took the lead in the opening minutes of this final, after Sam Hale had met a good cross into the Brook House box, with his excellent looping header hitting the crossbar, on its way over. A couple of minutes later, and with Brook House now starting to find their rhythm, their captain Trey Pender-Brown would see his curling free-kick effort from 20 yards out, be kept out of the Civil Service goal, by their goalkeeper, Reuben Bull.

After Brook House player James Pilcher’s low effort from the edge of the Civil Service box was gathered by Reuben Bull, a couple of minutes later Ben Bell’s cross into the centre of the Civil Service box, was met by Hekmat Alizai, whose really fine overhead kick effort went narrowly over the goal. And then, in quick succession, both Reece Keary and Ben Bell would hit efforts wide of the Civil Service goal, from inside of their penalty area. Civil Service were however, defending their penalty area really well. Following some good skill from Trey Pender-Brown, to work the ball into the Civil Service penalty area, he had a good effort on goal which was well parried by Reuben Bull, before a foul was given to Civil Service. A great through-ball pass would then find the run of Brook House centre-forward Hekmat Alizai, to the centre of the Civil Service box, but, under pressure by the sliding Alex Callegari, Hekmat Alizai’s resulting low effort would go just wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

Civil Service, who had been managing this game well, would go on to create two good chances, towards the end of the first half. Firstly, and following a free-kick, Fintan Mullane would help the ball on to the impressive Josh Valentin, in the centre of the Brook House penalty area, with his low deflected effort going narrowly wide of the goal. And then soon after, Sam Hale’s headed effort on goal (following a corner-kick into the Brook House box) was headed clear off the goal-line, by a Brook House defender. In the third minute of first half additional time, a free-kick was awarded to Brook House on the edge of the Civil Service box, on the left-hand side of the pitch. Trey Pender-Brown would lay the ball off to a teammate (Reece Keary), who stopped the ball, with his excellent resulting whipped effort from close to the edge of the penalty area, finding the top right-hand corner of the goal superbly well, 0-1.

Just before the referee had sounded his whistle for half-time, from a corner-kick a Civil Service player would head a powerful effort on the Brook House goal, which was somehow pushed over his goal by the outstretched goalkeeper, Adam Childs. During the early stages of the second half, and after Brook House player Reece Keary had managed to get through on goal inside of the Civil Service penalty area, he was slightly distracted by the excellent Dom McCarthy’s sliding challenge, with Bull then doing well to save his effort on goal. In the 53rd minute of this final, Civil Service would draw level, courtesy of a really well worked goal. As after the brilliant Josh Valentin had dropped deep to receive a pass, the Civil Service forward would then play a clever pass in behind the Brook House defence, to the sprinting Richard Beavis, who took the ball down the left-hand side of the Brook House penalty area, before clinically finding the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1. 

Brook House would, after that equalising goal, go on to a great chance, following a well worked move. With a Brook House player receiving the ball inside of the Civil Service penalty area, with his looping effort rebounding off the crossbar. However, in a most incredible passage of play, Brook House would then see three efforts on goal, that were somehow cleared off the goal-line by Civil Service. Civil Service would manage one more effort on goal (from distance), which was gathered by the Brook House goalkeeper, before the final minutes of the game saw not too many chances, despite both sides trying to win the game before the end of the 90 minutes. This cup final would ultimately have to be decided by penalties. The first six penalties (three for each side) were all finished clinically into the goal. However, after Richard Beavis’ effort from the penalty spot was saved by Adam Childs, with Brook House player Mohammed Ali then finishing into the goal from the next penalty, Civil Service player Dom McCarthy now had to score the next penalty. His effort was well saved to the goalkeeper’s bottom right-hand corner, to win the final for Brook House, and the 2024/25 Middlesex FA Premier Cup.

It’s been a real privilege to have covered all of the Civil Service’s games in this prestigious competition, this season. They have been an absolute pleasure to watch, and it’s also been fantastic to cover some of their excellent SAL games, as well. Civil Service’s last ditch defending was, as it has been throughout this competition, superb on Wednesday. However, many congratulations must go to a really fine Brook House, who played some very good football, on winning the final, however. Both sides gave their absolute all on Wednesday, and there were so many good performances on both sides. Despite real competition from Hekmat Alizai, Adam Childs, Sam Hale, and Dom McCarthy, my player of the match award from this highly competitive final, goes to Trey Pender-Brown, who as well as scoring an excellently taken goal from a free-kick, he also linked the play really well in the forward areas of the pitch, doing some fine work with the ball. My Civil Service player of the match was central-defender Dom McCarthy.